the degree of centrality to the white population of the state
Today, the white population composes 82.7% of Albermarle County and 70.4% of Charlottesville City. The white population of the University is approx. 60%. Albermarle is still very central to white populations of VA. I wonder if the University was founded in 2017, would a founding committee be more likely to choose a location further east where there is more racial diversity?
Lelia Battle
Some good men, and even of respectable information, consider the learned sciences as useless acquirements; some think that they do not better the condition of men; and others that education like private & individual concerns, should be left to private & individual effort; not reflecting that an establishment, embracing all the sciences which may be useful & even necessary in the various vocations of life, with the buildings & apparatus belonging to each, are far beyond the reach of individual means, & must either derive existence from public patronage or not exist at all. This would leave us then without those callings which depend on education, or send us to other countries, to seek the instruction they require.
UVA was founded to encourage higher education, what was called the “holy cause of the University.” Jefferson believed in aiming at the highest. In looking at the historical origin of UVA, we find its connection with wide-reaching ideas of a system of public education. Jefferson seemed to recognize that our schools, if they are to serve efficiently, must have broad foundations.